Poll Watch

All the polls bear this out: The 2000 presidential race is the closest in 40 years. Republican George W. Bush, after trailing Democrat Al Gore for most of September, appears to have pulled ahead and narrowly leads Gore in most nationwide polls. Green Party candidate Ralph Nader typically draws 4% in these surveys, and Reform candidate Pat Buchanan’s support is about 1%. Bush and Gore debated Oct. 3 and on Wednesday and will debate a final time Tuesday.

Oct. 14

USA Today/CNN

Bush 48%

Gore 44%

Don’t know/Others 8%

*

Oct. 14

Reuters/MSNBC

Bush 44%

Gore 41%

Don’t know/Others 15%

*

Oct. 10

CNN/USAToday

Bush 45%

Gore 45%

Don’t know/Other 10%

*

Oct. 7

Reuters/MSNBC

Bush 41%

Gore 45%

Don’t know/Others 14%

*

Oct. 7

USA Today/CNN

Bush 49%

Gore 41%

Don’t know/Others 10%

*

Oct. 6

CNN/Time

Bush 47%

Gore 45%

Don’t know/Other 8%

*

Note: All polls surveyed likely voters. Margins of error range from +/-3 percentage points to +/-5 percentage points.

Compiled by MASSIE RITSCH / Los Angeles Times